LSC 300 L
Literature for Children
Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven CT

CONTENTS:
Child Development Home

Kohlberg's MORAL STAGE THEORY

Kohlberg systematized Piagetıs thinking on morality and developed a hierarchy of moral development--this theory is still evolving. Only a minority of adults reach the post-conventional (conformity) levels of behavior, that is, those levels marked by the rights of others and the conscience acting as a guide to moral conduct.

Level I --

Moral values reside in external happenings, in bad acts or quasi-physical needs rather than in persons and standards.

• Stage 0 -- Premoral [infancy]
• Stage 1 -- Obedience and punishment orientation [early childhood, about 1-1/2 to 3 years]
  • The child defers to superior powers or prestige, or wants to stay out of trouble.
• Stage 2 -- Reciprocity orientation [middle childhood, about 3-6]
  • The child realizes that right action satisfies its needs and occasionally the needs of others.
  • Self-interest is paramount.
  • Trade-offs are values: "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."
  • Loyalty and gratitude don't enter in.

Level II --

Moral values reside in performing good or right roles, in maintaining the conventional order and pleasing others.

• Stage 3 -- The good child orientation [late childhood, about 6-12]
  • The main thing is to get approval by pleasing and helping others.
  • child conforms to majority or "natural" behavior.
• Stage 4 -- Law and order orientation [adolescence, about 13-20]
  • Doing one's duty, respect for authority, and maintaining the social order for its own sake are seen as "moral" actions.

Level III --

Moral values reside in principles separate from those who hold and enforce them, and apart from a personıs identification with the enforcing group.

• Stage 5 -- The legalistic orientation [only a minority of adults reach this stage]
  • The rights of others as well as individuals rights are recognized.
  • Rights agreed upon by the whole society are accepted as binding, yet looked upon as subject to change.
  • Rights and duties are derived from the social contract.
• Stage 6 -- The conscience or principle orientation [only a minority of adults reach this stage]
  • Universally agreed upon ethical standards rather than "rules" guide moral conduct.
  • The ideas of justice, respect for others, and equality are examples of moral "ideals."